William Suff

William Lester Suff (born Bill Lee Suff; August 20, 1950) is an American serial killer who tortured and killed at least thirteen women in Riverside County, California, from 1986 to 1991, earning nicknames such as the Riverside Prostitute Killer and the Lake Elsinore Killer, as some of his victims were dumped in Lake Elsinore. Years earlier, in 1973, he murdered his two-month-old daughter in Texas, a crime for which he had only served ten years of a seventy-year sentence.

Biography Suff's parents had five children, of which he was the eldest. As a child, Suff proved gifted at playing music. Although not popular, Suff made friends easily. Suff's mother was very domineering and had a strong influence over her husband. This is how Suff learned that he could get what he wanted by coercing others.

In 1960, at the age of 10, his parents separated after accusing each other of infidelity. Suff's mother became a prostitute, thus giving Suff a distaste for prostitution. Soon, Suff's mother got back together with another man. This man turned out to be very strict and very unhealthy towards children.

In 1968, at the age of 18, Suff met Teryl, 15, in a marching band, while he was playing. The couple dated before marrying in 1969. Suff soon became verbally abusive to Teryl, threatening to kill her if she did not do what he wanted. She gave birth to his son, William Lester Suff Jr., in November 1970. A daughter, Dijiania, was born in July 1973. Suff was physically abusive to his daughter. Teryl claimed that Suff was physically abusive to her during their marriage.

Though Suff was sentenced to 70 years in a Texas prison, he served only ten years before his release on parole on March 6, 1984.

Later murders Suff was convicted of twelve counts of murder and one count of attempted murder.

Rhonda Jetmore

On January 10, 1989, Rhonda Jetmore, 27, a sex worker, entered into a sexual transaction with Suff. The agreement turned violent when he began choking her. She struck him with a flashlight she had in her hand, causing Suff to lose his grip, allowing her to briefly escape. Suff tackled her to the ground and began ripping off her clothes. He stuck his finger in her mouth and she bit down, causing one of her teeth to break. Suff pulled back and Jetmore was able to run to the door, but he tackled her again. As she pleaded with Suff to let her go, he lost track of his glasses. She used her flashlight to shine a light on them and when Suff went to pick them up, she ran out the door and flagged down a car. The passenger, whom she happened to know, pulled out a gun and fired at Suff, and she was able to escape.

Kimberly Lyttle

On June 28, 1989, Kimberly Lyttle, 28, was found manually strangled to death on the side of the road in Lake Elsinore. Her autopsy revealed that she had been hit in the head, and she had cigarette burns on her arms and other areas of her body; all injuries occurring prior to her death. She was covered with a blue bath towel, which was found to have red, white, and blue fibers that were matched to a sleeping bag in Suff's van.

Christina Leal

On December 13, 1989, the body of Christina Leal, 23, was found strangled and stabbed to death on a Quail Valley hillside; she was last seen the night before. Her autopsy revealed marks around her wrists and ankles, indicating she was bound, scratch marks on her face, a black eye, four stab wounds in the middle of her chest, at least two knife wounds on her genitalia, and one of her nipples was partially removed; all antemortem. A lightbulb had been inserted into her vagina and was recovered intact.

Charlotte Jean Palmer

On December 10, 1986, Charlotte Palmer, 25, was found near Romoland. Though cause of death could not be determined, authorities believe she was smothered.

Linda Ann Ortega

On April 29, 1988, Linda Ortega, 37, was found nude and stabbed to death near the rodeo grounds in Lake Elsinore.

Martha Bess Young

On May 2, 1988, the nude body of Martha Young, 27, of Albuquerque, was found just a few miles away from Linda Ortega. Her cause of death was determined to be a combination of strangulation and overdose of amphetamines. She was previously reported missing, first by her boyfriend, Joseph Shiflitt, who called her mother on April 10, 1988, and then officially by her mother, 17 days later.

Diane Mae Talavera

On January 17, 1989, Diana Talavera, 37, was found strangled on the beach in Lake Elsinore.

Suff was working as a warehouse clerk for Riverside County when he was arrested, having been hired while still on parole from Texas. During his time in this job, Suff delivered office furniture to the officers on the task force who were investigating his killing spree.

Trial On July 19, 1995, a Riverside County jury found Suff guilty of killing 12 women and attempting to kill another, though police suspected him of being responsible for as many as 22 deaths. Suff did not testify in his defense. During the penalty phase that followed, the prosecutor presented evidence linking Suff to the 1988 murder of a San Bernardino woman as well as evidence that, despite his prior Texas prison term for murdering his first daughter, he abused and violently shook his three-month-old daughter by his second wife. On August 17, 1995, after deliberating for only 10 minutes, the jury returned verdicts of guilty on 12 murder counts and on one count of attempted murder.

The jury could not unanimously agree to find him guilty on a 13th count of murder. On October 26, 1995, the trial court followed the jury's verdict and ordered Suff condemned to death. Suff resides on death row at San Quentin State Prison.

His 2014 appeal of the sentence was rejected by the California Supreme Court, which upheld the death penalty.

In 2019 California reversed the death penalty and instead he will be spending the rest of his living days in prison.

In August 2024, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department announced that Suff was linked to the murder of 19-year-old Cathy Ann Small, a resident of Lake Elsinore whose body was found in South Pasadena in 1986. Police are also searching for a second suspect they believe might be involved in the case.

In 1997 Cat and Mouse - Mind Games with a Serial Killer was published by Dove Books. Suff met with author Brian Alan Lane and told his story. The book includes short stories and poems written by Suff and photos of several of his victims.

Suff is the subject of the television program Real Detective. The 40-minute program includes dramatic recreations and interviews with the lead detective of the Riverside Taskforce, Det. Bob Creed. The episode first aired on March 9, 2017. He is also profiled as part of the 2013 Amazon Prime documentary Serial Killers Defined.

The case was the subject of episodes of The New Detectives, Born to Kill?, and Most Evil Killers.